A partnership for South Africa

Cummins and International show long-term commitment to the local market.

Global truck manufacturer Navistar International and Cummins – a global leader in the manufacture, sales and servicing of diesel engines and related technology – have cemented their standing in the local marketplace through a strategic partnership between the two companies.

International South Africa sales and marketing general manager, Sally Rutter, notes that the company has been fitting Cummins engines to its range of vehicles since the early 1970s. “International was among the first companies to fit Cummins engines in the United States of America (USA), and the relationship has continued and flourished across the globe since that time,” she explains.

Rutter says that Cummins has remained the engine of choice for International in South Africa over the decades, as the brand has a proven reputation for being durable and easy to maintain. “Cummins engines are renowned for their quality and reliability. The product has been well proven over the years with engines in the market clocking up over a million kilometres.”

The fact that Cummins is based in South Africa is another major advantage, adds Rutter. “This ensures that International receives aftermarket and technical support. Cummins also boasts its own parts distribution centre, making parts for its engines readily available at the most competitive price.”

International’s presence in South Africa was formalised in 1927 with the establishment of International Harvester Cooperation. In 1973 an assembly plant was set up in Pietermaritzburg, before partners Pieter Coetzee and Keith Tyson formed Tyco International as the importer, manufacturer and assembler for the International brand in 1988.

In 1990, the company’s Apex assembly plant was established in Benoni and remains the hub of local activities for International. The Imperial Group bought a stake in Tyco in 1994. In 2008, Imperial’s role shifted to that of retailer and Navistar International Trucks Southern Africa became the importer and manufacturer of International Trucks in southern Africa.

In 2010, Navistar International Trucks Southern Africa became part of NC2 Corporation, changing its company name to NC2   Trucks Southern Africa – a wholly owned subsidiary of Navistar Inc. Today, NC2   is the importer, manufacturer and distributor of International branded vehicles for the southern African region. The trucks are distributed through International’s strategically-located independent dealer network.

In addition to its dealers based across the borders in Namibia, Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe and Swaziland, Rutter adds that International is committed to increasing its local market presence, with plans on the cards to expand the International dealer network further into key regions, including Mozambique; Botswana; Uganda; Tanzania and Kenya.

Cummins Southern Africa has also firmly established its long term commitment to the local market, after recently consolidating its Gauteng-based branches to establish its first full-line ‘Gauteng Operation’ in Longmeadow Business Estate, Kempton Park. The Cummins Gauteng Operation – established to improve the company’s branch and dealer network, customer service and turnaround times – was officially opened on March 18. 

Cummins Southern Africa’s managing director, Jacques Fourie, notes that the establishment of the Gauteng Operation puts the focus on its core business as an engine company that offers customers superior service and technical support. He says the Longmeadow operation focuses on both the Cummins whole goods and aftermarket businesses, with a strong priority placed on product sales, certified engine rebuilds, engine repowers and application engineering.

“This facility brings together the best we have to offer with regards to our customer and OEM value proposition. The power generation aftermarket business, heavy duty truck and bus business and all midrange segments, including defence, will all operate from this hi-tech facility equipped to support Cummins OEMs and customers,” he explains.

“Combining all aspects of our business, allows us to better leverage our parts, service and technical organisations across the market segments we serve, and thereby provide better customer service, while reducing working capital and costs,” Fourie continues. “Combining all divisions together to work in synergy will benefit every Cummins employee and all of our customers too, as they are now able to find everything under one roof,” he concludes.